Site-specific cell perforation technique

Abstract

A technique for controlling membrane denaturation reactions other than physical shear force was developed. For example, the present invention provides, a method for causing membrane disruption at a specific site by reacting a stimulus such as light with a compound that is activated by the stimulus, where the reaction occurs on a membrane such as a biomembrane. It also provides a membrane structure such as cells in which a specific site has been disrupted, which are obtained by the present method. Introduction of substances such as genes also became possible by using this membrane structure. Further provided is a membrane-destroying member for disrupting a membrane at a specific site. Thus, the present invention enabled, for example, easy membrane penetration using components constituting microelectrodes, micromanipulators, and microinjectors, which were conventionally hardly usable in penetrating cell membranes.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An isolated membrane obtained by a method of site specific membrane disruption, the method comprising: contacting a membrane with a membrane-disrupting reagent that induces a membrane-denaturing reaction when the membrane is exposed to a stimulus; and applying the stimulus to the membrane at a contact site under conditions effective to temporarily and partially disrupt the membrane only at the contact site without destroying structural components associated to the membrane, wherein the isolated membrane is disrupted at a specific site and the structural components associated to the disrupted membrane are not destroyed, and wherein the disrupted membrane is capable of being repaired to a state prior to disruption without incorporation of any additional membranes, wherein permeability of the repaired membrane is the same as permeability of the membrane prior to disruption. 
     
     
         8 . The isolated membrane of  claim 7 , wherein the membrane is a cell membrane, a biomembrane, or an artificial membrane. 
     
     
         9 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A membrane structure comprising the isolated membrane according to  claim 7 , wherein the membrane structure is a cell or a micelle.